Practically poetry, my dear wife. Have I been rubbing off on you?
[All joking aside because, hah hah, he's a very silly and unserious poet -- who is currently not panicking at all, thank you, due to various things completely out of his control, and mostly because Yennefer has made a series of bad decisions that has sort of blown up in her face --
But he's kind enough to not mention that right now --
To be honest, he would be happy only to see her, not to see her afraid.]
It was a collaboration between Alucard and I, amoung others. I will not claim to be the mastermind, only a helpful hand in its raising.
But besides my ego, please. Tell me you're all right and mean it.
I certainly hope not. The last thing this Continent needs is my poetry.
[ to give yennefer any kind of credit here would perhaps be a little too favorable, but she would have been prepared if he wanted to point out this fact. it's not as though she's spent the last hours in distinct, fevered arguments that brought up this very fact. he would be in the right to do so, though a part of her is quite relieved, and glad, that he isn't.
she is just tired. and she is scared. and while fighting with jaskier would settle her more firmly in whatever side of things she wanted to stand on, but the truth is, she really doesn't know how much more she has in her to do so. ]
You don't wish to claim credit? My dear husband, are you feeling quite well? I'd hate to think you've fallen under the weather in the midst of all this upheaval. How else are you going to get a front row seat for your next ballad?
[ which may be... a bit crass, if she's being honest. she does not know what is happening back in the castle, does not know what fate awaits her or any of the summoned she's left behind. but the attempts at humor are just that, attempts, and the moment that jaskier does not wish to meet her there her determination to keep it crumbles. ]
I'm out of the castle and currently out of harm's way. Though I'm not certain any of us know for sure where we are headed. I'm tired and I smell of horse and dirt and I am meant to spend extended days in close quarters with fucking Ambrose Rhett so. All right is about all I can muster, at present.
[ once again, jaskier may be the only person who gets an honest answer out of her about the whole ordeal, but it's not as though she has to pretend any longer. ]
It is rather rancid, I agree. At least you admit it.
[Oh, yes, this is very easy. Except he is still panicked for her, the same way he was when -- all right, a little less (much more less) than he was when she walked in, stinking of sewer and the undergroomed fart of a man she'd brought with her.]
I'm not the only genius on this sphere. Does that soothe your woes regarding my ego?
[Gods, there's a bloody coup and she's worried after his ego! He could choke her for it, easily, considering her neck give so much surface area and is very stringy indeed.]
If it helps, once you started spending more time with Geralt, you always smelled of horse. So hardly anything has changed.
Anyway, I hope you murder him when you have a chance, as long as it doesn't get you someone's shit list -- oh, who am I kidding, you're probably already on most of them.
[This is affection. And worry. And maybe a little love, the more scathing he gets, because it's easier that way. It's simple. It's old. (Like her.)]
Is he still with you? My little feathered friend? Perhaps the company will uplift your spirits in place of my latest song.
You've found your replacement? Or your rival? And I don't believe the amount of woes your ego has caused me will ever be soothed, but that is something I've learned to accept.
I'm less worried about shit lists at this point. Ellya was the only woman crazy enough to do something I couldn't put an end to, and from what I've heard, she's currently a corpse. Unfortunately for us both, Thancred and Stephen have convinced me that murdering him isn't in our best interests yet. Once we arrive wherever it is we're meant to be, though, I'll be reconsidering.
[ it's less that she's worried about his ego and more that she's digging into something that feels familiar and safe. with all that she feels has just been upended, for all that she was comfortable and now no longer is, there's something nice about trying to reach for that familiarity.
it's one thing for yennefer to be on the run. it's another for her to have to spend days with her life in the hands of a man she has hated for as long as she has.
it isn't an easy thing, these routines they end up in too often. but yennefer also cannot be too angry - this contact, this immediate connection across miles, the fact that she can hear from jaskier at all, it eases some part of this. if only marginally. ]
Of course he's still with me. He hasn't left my side since you sent him to me. Perhaps the only constant thing I have with me. I think he's begun to learn some of the more well-liked tunes from the castle. Do you have contact with him or will he have to teach them to you himself?
Hah! You're adorable. There is not a single man who is capable of being my rival. Not on this sphere, nor any other. Besides, they're not bloody bards.
[In case she was afraid his ego had escaped him, even in moments of crisis. If she has enough wherewithal to give him shit and goad him into his bitching, then she is safe enough. Even if her company is not favourable... well, it doesn't sound terrible, outside of the bastard mage.]
I suppose I don't regret hearing her dead. We're just ending up with a new problem with less predictability.
[On a mountain of problems. As silly as it is, he wishes he were with her -- if only to stop her from murdering a man and getting into more shit. (Or to give her some small measure of comfort... from the silly, sing-song man.)]
When we next meet, I believe our connection will reorient itself, and he shall learn even more songs. And you should, if you have access to Nocwich. I know Geralt will be happy to see you.
I am many things, dear husband. Adorable has never been one of them. And I'll remember that next time you feel insecure about not being invited to perform at a ball.
[ whether it be his intention or not, there is something almost comforting in the reminder - of his ego, of how they can change so much and yet certain things will always remain.
and he isn't wrong - she feels better, knowing ellya dead. for all that she wishes she could have been part of it, could have had a hand in it, but the end result is the same.
perhaps it leaves them with less knowledge, less awareness of what will come of this change. but yennefer can't help but feel relieved, in some way. at least now she won't feel responsible each time the crown chooses to act. but that relief has very little time to settle, given her present circumstances. given the unpredictable nature of what's ahead. ]
At present I'm not sure where I will spend my next meal, let alone if it will have access to a portal. And given that Ambrose has declined to open one for us and has instead chosen to take to the mountainside on horseback, he will (again) be of little help. I will see what we might have access to, though. I would like to see everyone in person. I'm growing tired of the necessity of these magics.
[ it is not lost on her, jaskier's mention of geralt. there is a part of her that has not yet unravelled, and she's not certain will, until she can be certain of their safety - geralt's, ciri's, jaskier's. ]
You've had your moments, whether we wish to acknowledge them or not. And you have to know you denying it makes me want to insist upon it all the more.
Besides, what ball? I don't know what you're talking about.
[All he knows is Valdo Marx is (probably) dead because of some event or another that he was not invited or privy to. Which, considering the circumstances in retrospect, perhaps he's very thankful for that.]
From what I remember, this is hardly the first time you've been on the run. With equally unsavory company. You survived that, need I remind you? You'll survive again.
Yennefer, for gods' sakes, aren't you (not us) a bit old for this? I am allowed to miss you. Especially when you're on the run, and in danger.
Which is actually the only time I may miss you, so continue to be so if it so pleases you. I know my attention is as succulent as a peach, and you are a greedy little... petty peach-eater.
Not your strongest. Would you like to try again, or...? Though I suppose it does take my own imminent danger and, or, demise to get your attention. Have the Cities truly taken up that much of your focus? I recall how highly regarded you were some time ago, so I can't say I'm surprised.
Oh, shut it. I'm under a lot of pressure. I never claimed to be perfect.
[Not in Yennefer's earshot, anyway.
There she is. The soft-spoken girl in his caravan, who spoke the truth too soon. Who loved his song, and was as soft-hearted as the peaches he's taunted her with.]
I know. Stay in touch, Yennefer. If I can extend my help to you, you can be sure it is yours.
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cointosser) wrote2021-04-12 08:58 pm
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[All joking aside because, hah hah, he's a very silly and unserious poet -- who is currently not panicking at all, thank you, due to various things completely out of his control, and mostly because Yennefer has made a series of bad decisions that has sort of blown up in her face --
But he's kind enough to not mention that right now --
To be honest, he would be happy only to see her, not to see her afraid.]
It was a collaboration between Alucard and I, amoung others. I will not claim to be the mastermind, only a helpful hand in its raising.
But besides my ego, please. Tell me you're all right and mean it.
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she is just tired. and she is scared. and while fighting with jaskier would settle her more firmly in whatever side of things she wanted to stand on, but the truth is, she really doesn't know how much more she has in her to do so. ] [ which may be... a bit crass, if she's being honest. she does not know what is happening back in the castle, does not know what fate awaits her or any of the summoned she's left behind. but the attempts at humor are just that, attempts, and the moment that jaskier does not wish to meet her there her determination to keep it crumbles. ] [ once again, jaskier may be the only person who gets an honest answer out of her about the whole ordeal, but it's not as though she has to pretend any longer. ]
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[Oh, yes, this is very easy. Except he is still panicked for her, the same way he was when -- all right, a little less (much more less) than he was when she walked in, stinking of sewer and the undergroomed fart of a man she'd brought with her.]
I'm not the only genius on this sphere. Does that soothe your woes regarding my ego?
[Gods, there's a bloody coup and she's worried after his ego! He could choke her for it, easily, considering her neck give so much surface area and is very stringy indeed.]
If it helps, once you started spending more time with Geralt, you always smelled of horse. So hardly anything has changed.
Anyway, I hope you murder him when you have a chance, as long as it doesn't get you someone's shit list -- oh, who am I kidding, you're probably already on most of them.
[This is affection. And worry. And maybe a little love, the more scathing he gets, because it's easier that way. It's simple. It's old. (Like her.)]
Is he still with you? My little feathered friend? Perhaps the company will uplift your spirits in place of my latest song.
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it's one thing for yennefer to be on the run. it's another for her to have to spend days with her life in the hands of a man she has hated for as long as she has.
it isn't an easy thing, these routines they end up in too often. but yennefer also cannot be too angry - this contact, this immediate connection across miles, the fact that she can hear from jaskier at all, it eases some part of this. if only marginally. ]
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[In case she was afraid his ego had escaped him, even in moments of crisis. If she has enough wherewithal to give him shit and goad him into his bitching, then she is safe enough. Even if her company is not favourable... well, it doesn't sound terrible, outside of the bastard mage.]
[On a mountain of problems. As silly as it is, he wishes he were with her -- if only to stop her from murdering a man and getting into more shit. (Or to give her some small measure of comfort... from the silly, sing-song man.)]
[An understatement.]
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and he isn't wrong - she feels better, knowing ellya dead. for all that she wishes she could have been part of it, could have had a hand in it, but the end result is the same.
perhaps it leaves them with less knowledge, less awareness of what will come of this change. but yennefer can't help but feel relieved, in some way. at least now she won't feel responsible each time the crown chooses to act. but that relief has very little time to settle, given her present circumstances. given the unpredictable nature of what's ahead. ] [ it is not lost on her, jaskier's mention of geralt. there is a part of her that has not yet unravelled, and she's not certain will, until she can be certain of their safety - geralt's, ciri's, jaskier's. ]
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[All he knows is Valdo Marx is (probably) dead because of some event or another that he was not invited or privy to. Which, considering the circumstances in retrospect, perhaps he's very thankful for that.]
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[Not in Yennefer's earshot, anyway.
There she is. The soft-spoken girl in his caravan, who spoke the truth too soon. Who loved his song, and was as soft-hearted as the peaches he's taunted her with.]